Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Experience with co cyprindiol / dianette

15 replies

Pawpatrollers2021 · 04/01/2021 22:32

Took this years ago with dual purpose of treating acne and as birth control. Was moved onto Yasmin as told couldn’t get it anymore. This didn’t agree and came off altogether.

About 5 months later acne returned with a vengeance, went on accutane, and whilst skin on face stayed contained to just before period the scalp acne that appeared after stoping taking dianette has got slowly out of control over the past 5 years.

It is now unbearable it’s so sore, it’s itchy to the point it stops me sleeping and I am starting to lose hair again which is what happened before. And it’s so greasy which means I’m washing it more.

I don’t want to go on accutane again that was the third time I took it and the side effects were horrendous. Also what derm’s going to see me at the mo.

It’s clearly hormonal so I was Googling hormonal treatments and this came up as being available again but just as an acne treatment not a bc.

My only slight hesitation is I felt it had a negative effect on my weight, anyone else find that. But it was so long ago I may be remembering it incorrectly.

I also noticed I must have had an incredibly low libido on it - anyone else notice this. I had thought I’d just really gone off BF (now DH). But the penny dropped afterwards stopping.

What are people’s experiences

OP posts:
Honeyhoops · 04/01/2021 23:04

@Pawpatrollers2021

I was on Dianette from my 20's to early 30s and didn't have any side effects that I remember, I was moved onto Yasmin (Lucette) which was fine.

I stopped taking it back in March as I wanted to try coming off the pill completely due to hormone related pigmentation on my face. I also developed a spotty scalp which I was prescribed erythromycin for, I didn't like this and it didn't work very well so I'm wanting to go back onto Yasmin. The practice nurse would prefer me to go onto the mini pill due to my age (40) so I have a telephone appointment tomorrow to discuss.

A bit rambling but I was wondering how old you are as my GP refused to prescribe Dianette when I was around 33 due to the risks.

Pawpatrollers2021 · 05/01/2021 10:13

@Honeyhoops I was 30 but it sounded like it just wasn't available full stop, rather than anything to do with my age. I'm late 30's now.

How odd about the spotty scalp! I've suffered with acne and off quite severe at points since my late teens and have never had a spot on my scalp until coming off the pill. It's so unbearably uncomfortable and it's the hair loss which is very alarming.

Oh yes I think antibiotics are a waste of time, it's a long time since I've been to the GP about it, I can't believe that they're still peddling Eyrth, annoying things don't ever seemed to have moved on with acne treatment.

OP posts:
ErickBroch · 05/01/2021 10:16

I was given dianette and within 8 days had angioedema (side effect) and had to go into hospital. Never again!

Honeyhoops · 05/01/2021 10:57

@ErickBroch

I was fine on Dianette but given the possible side effects, and my age I wouldn't want to go back on it now. I was told at my last pill review I wasn't able to go back on it anyway now I'm over 40.

@Pawpatrollers2021
The erythromycin was awful, it gave me an upset stomach and took weeks to work at all. I have asked to be referred to a dermatologist in the past, mainly to deal with my hormone related pigmentation but all I got was a letter from a derm consultant with a prescription for some cream which didn't work.

This years the second time I've had a spotty scalp, although my face is fairly clear. I'm thinking it could be related to coming off the pill but not sure. I feel like I'm wasting may time seeing my GP as all they do is prescribe antibiotics. I had agreed to try the mini pill but with my skin flaring up again I've asked to stay on Lucette (same as Yasmin). So fed up to be in my 40s and still dealing with skin issues.

JorisBonson · 05/01/2021 10:59

Dianette was a wonder drug for me. No sure effects (apart from massive boobs!) and clear skin.

Yasmin turned me into a lunatic.

Honeyhoops · 05/01/2021 11:02

@Pawpatrollers2021

I'm also convinced I'm losing more hair than normal, it was terrible a few months ago, not as bad now. I don't have any bald patches but I think my hair lines receded, not sure if I'm just being paranoid.

I bought some liquid iron, multi vitamins and vitamin d and c tablets. Not sure any of that helps but I felt generally a bit run down so thought I'd give them a go.

Fiddlersgreen · 05/01/2021 11:21

I’ve always lost a lot of hair, not enough to notice but seems to be more than average. And I’ve suffers spots on my scalp for years, it’s horrible when you catch them with a hair brush!
I keep asking to be referred to a dermatologist but my doctor says we haven’t explored every angle yet. I’ve been on various meds for 20 years!!

Fiddlersgreen · 05/01/2021 11:22

Sorry meant to say my experience with diannette was a positive one, it worked really well for me but have been told I can’t take it anymore

Honeyhoops · 05/01/2021 16:07

I've given up on getting a GP to refer me to a dermatologist, I think I'll look into seeing one privately once covid is over. My skin was great when I was on Dianette and I'm sure my hair was less greasy. I need to wash it daily now.

SBAM · 05/01/2021 16:21

I was on diannete from age 22-25ish. Then my GP said I wasn’t allowed it anymore, they don’t like people having it more than 4 years? They moved me onto microgynon which turned me into a weepy miserable mess so I gave up on the pill entirely.
After I came off it I noticed that it had kind of flattened my moods and definitely dampened my libido, but my skin was perfect.
Luckily those few years on it seem to have reset my skin and apart from the odd cystic acne type spot and a few mask-related spots my skin is pretty clear five years on.
Sorry this hasn’t been your experience.

Piffle11 · 05/01/2021 17:14

@Honeyhoops @Fiddlersgreen I was on Dianette for BC and acne, and it was only when I came off that the birth control nurse mentioned that ‘your hair might thicken up’ ... apparently Dianette is also given to combat excessive hair (facial, etc). My hair has always been fine, but when on Dianette it was worse, and I had no idea!

PatsyStone39 · 05/01/2021 17:17

Be very wary of Dianette, especially if you take migraines. It's actually been banned in several European countries due to causing stroke/death in young women. Not to scare you, but please google it and make an informed decision.

LemonSquirtInTheEyeOfLife · 05/01/2021 17:44

I was on dianette for 3 weeks aged about 22. Suffice to say, an ambulance was called out in the middle of the night. I'm now 40 & disabled as a direct result of that drug. I was incredibly unlucky, I didn't have a stroke (I would potentially have recovered better from that) but I can't work, am slowly losing the sight in one eye, & am in constant pain.

I managed fine with roaccutane though. Totally manageable side effects, although I appreciate some people do struggle. Just goes to show, you can never tell how a drug will affect anyone.

PatsyStone39 · 05/01/2021 18:00

@LemonSquirtInTheEyeOfLife I'm so sorry to read you were unlucky with Dianette. I had a Dr prescribe it to me at 18 for PCOS, knowing I had a history of migraine. Thankfully I read a horror story before taking it and i put them in the bin. Now when ever a Dr gives me anything, i research the hell out of it.

There was a campaign to get it banned in the UK and US, too, but I don't think anything ever came of it.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread